HC Deb 09 July 1998 vol 315 cc578-9W
Mr. Derek Twigg

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Council meeting of the Economic and Finance Ministers of the European Union held on 6 July. [50215]

Mrs. Liddell

I attended the Economic and Finance Council—ECOFIN—of the European Union in Brussels on 6 July. Given that this was the first Council of the Austrian Presidency, we discussed only one item of substantive business in formal session. The Council heard and then commented on the work programme of the Austrian Presidency for ECOFIN over the next six months. I and other Ministers welcomed the broad themes set out by Minister Edlinger, which largely take forward work from the previous six months, as anticipated in the Cardiff European Council Conclusions. During discussions, several Ministers paid tribute to the UK Presidency's handling over the past six months, and welcomed the progress made.